Commutator for electric machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

N. O. BASSETT.

GOMMUTATOR FOR ELECTRIC MACHINES.

ATTYS.

WITNESSES:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

N. O. BASSETT.

OOMMUTATOR FOR ELBGTRIG MACHINES.

No. 483,732. Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

FIG-5 INVENTOR: AA-av M QWK/(l/Y ATTYS.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT M OFFICE.

NORMAN C. BASSETT, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON- HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

COMMUTATOR FOR ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,732, dated October 4, 1892.

Ap lication filed August 26,189]. Serial No. 403,836. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NORMAN C. BASSETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Commutators for Electric Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in commutators for dynamo-electric machines and motors and provides means for clamping the commutator segments firmly in place, while allowing removal of single segments or groups of segments without disturbing or unclamping the remaining segments.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-sectioned end view of a commutator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Figs. 3, 4,

2o 5, 6, 7, and 8 show details.

The commutator-shell A is preferably a metal cylinder or wheel and has an annular bearing portion B, on which the commutatorsegments C rest. The bearing portion B is preferably madein several removal pieces, one of which is shown in Figs. 3 and l, and has tapering teeth 1), between which the commutator-segments, beveled on one side, as in Fig.

6, are placed in pairs.

To hold the commutator-segments in place, clamping devices are provided at each end of the commutator. At one end of the commutator such clamping devices may consist of an inclined or undercut annular shoulder or 3 5 bearing'surface D, engaging with the end of the commutator-segments. The clamping de- Vices at the other end consist of a series of clamping blocks or wedges E, each having an inclined or undercut portion engaging with 40 the commutator-segments, and a screw-bolt or adjustable fastening e, attaching it to the commutator-shell. The ends of the segments are inclined to correspond and engage with the inclines on the clamping devices, and suitable insulating material, preferably mica, is interposed between the various segments and between the segments and the annular support and clamping devices. A separate and individually-adjustable bearing-block E may 59 be provided for each segment; but preferably each of such blocks is made to clamp a small group of adjacent seg1nentsfor example, four, as shown in the drawings. This only necessitates the unclamping of a small number of segments on removal of any one segment.

The clamping devices at each end of the commutator may be protected by an insulating-covering n, of mica or its equivalent, which may be bound down with cord m. 60

It is desirable to lock the series of clamping devices E in their final or set positions, and to effect this simultaneously for the whole series and without undesirable complication I provide a locking spring R, which is snapped into a groove 8 in the shell A, said ring being split and the joint being placed opposite a notch s, so as to enable the ring to be pried out. This ring R engages with all the nuts 6' of the fastening-bolts e.

Then the segment C or its insulation be comes damaged, it is necessary first to un wind the cord m, (shown in Fig. 2,) which holds the mica n in place. Then a short section of this mica insulation is turned outward to permit the removal of the block E from beneath it. The spring-ring R is then pried out of place by a suitable tool placed in notch S". Then the nut e is removed, allowing the block E to be withdrawn, after 30 which the segment C can be easily pried out of place by a screw-driver or other suitable tool. After repairing the insulation or segment all parts can be replaced by proceeding in reverse order.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is=

1. In a commutator for dynamo-electric machines or motors, the combination of a shell or cylinder, commutator segments arranged around the periphery thereof, and a number of individually adjustable clamping devices, each engaging with two or more of said segments and clamping them to the cylinder.

2. The combination, in acommutator, of a shell or cylinder having an annular shoulder or bearing-surface, aseries of independentlyadjustable clamping devices, and a series of commutator-segments embraced between such shoulder and clamping devicesi zoo 3. The combination of a commutator-shell having an annular shoulder, a number of individually-adjustable clamping devices arranged around the shell, and commutator-segments clamped between said clamping devices and shoulder.

l. The combination of a commutator-shell having an annular shoulder and an annular bearing portion, a series of individually-adjustable clamping devices arranged around said shell, and commutator-segments resting on said annular bearing portion and clamped between said clamping devices and shoulder.

5. The combination of a commutator-shell having an annular undercut or inclinedshoulder, a series of individually-adjustable clamping-blocks arranged around the commutator and having undercut orinclined bearing portions, and commutator-segments having inclined ends engaging with the inclined portions of said shoulder and clamping devices.

6. The combination of the commutator-shell having an inclined shoulder, the series of blocks en gaging with said shell by screw-bolts and having inclined bearing portions, and commutator-segments having inclined ends engaging with the inclined bearing portions of the blocks and shoulder.

7. The combination of a commutator-shell having an annular toothed bearing portion and a shoulder, a series of commutatorsegments engaging with said shoulder and between the teeth of said ring, and clamping devices for said segments.

8. The combination of a commutator-shell, an annular central toothed bearing portion and end clamping devices, and commutatorsegmentsclamped between said clamping devices and resting between the teeth of said central toothed portion.

9. The combination, with the segments of a commutator, of the. series of independent end clamping devices therefor and an insulating peripheral covering for said clamping devices.

10. The combination of the commutatorshell, the series of colnniutatoi'segments, the series of independently-adjustable clamping devices for said segments, and a common locking device for several or all of such clamping devices.

11. The combination of the commutatorshell, the annular bearing portion having tapering teeth, the commutator-segments beveled on one side and placed in pairs between said teeth, and clamping devices for said segments.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of August, 1891.

NORMAN C. BASSETT.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. GiBBoNnY, BENJAMIN B. HULL. 

